Self-playing piano.



E. C. HISGOGK.

SELF PLAYING PIANO; APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 19012.v

Patented May 11, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mi :xunreisvsrsus coA. wasn/norma. u, c.

E. U. HSUOCKL SELF PLAYING PIANO.

PPLNATIOH rum) SEPT. 25, 190e.

Patented May 11, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IU 1.1.1. JL. MAJ

EMORY C. IIISCOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. W. KIMBALLCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

Application filed September To all whom et 'may concern:

Be it known that I, EnomT C. IfIiscocx, a citizen of the United States,residing in Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of 5 Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Self-laying Pianos, of whichthe following is a specification.

In the ordinary construction of self playing pianos, the wind producingdevices and l reservoir of pneumatic actions are generally located belowthe key desk and either require an enlargement of the piano case or areplaced in front of the lower ends of such of the strings as extend belowthe key board. l It is of course not desirable to enlarge the case, andthe location in front of the strings is not only not convenient ofaccess, but it is objectionable for the further reason that the devicesmentioned niuie the sound of the strings, and must be removed wheneveraccess to the strings becomes necessary or desirable. I remove theseobjections, by arranging the feeders and the reservoir of the action inhorizontal position side by side, within the bed rail of the key desk,where they occupy no room except such as has heretofore been vacant, andare easy of access for repairs, and leave the sounding strings below thekeys wholly uncovered.

The nature of my improvement is fully disclosed below, and alsoillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which latter- Figure l is avertical section of a piano embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottomplan of the bed rail of a piano key desk, in which my invention isarranged. Figs. 3 and I are sections on the lines and fit-etrespectively of Fig. 2.

In said drawing, l0 represents the bed rail of alpiano key desk. Asusual, it consists of a rectangular frame, the long front and rearmembers of which are connected and braced at intervals by cross piecesl1. It is also provided with a covering 10a. In two adjacent spacesformed between the cross pieces, I place the feeders l2, l2, inhorizontal position with their movable boards 13 en the under side sothey can be connected directly to the pedals 14 by straps l5 and lowhich are united as in Fig. l. 'Ihese feeders imite in maintainingexhaust )ressure in the channel 17 which connects tiem with thepneumatic action of the instrument and the Specification of LettersEatent.

Patented May ii, i909.

25, 1908. Serial. IIO. 5,767.

reservoir IS. rIhe latter is also arranged in a horizontal positionalongside one of the feeders and in an adjacent open space within thebed rail. The feeders and reservoir are of the usual construction,except so far as they are changed to adapt them to use in horizontalpositions, the former having the usual springs 19 tending to collapsethem, and the latter having an expanding spring 20 mounted on one of thecross pieces Il and bearing on a lateral arm of 'the bottom of thereservoir. I also place within the bed rail adjacent to the reservoir, adevice for cutting off the exhaust from the action during the rewinding,consisting of a valved pneumatic 23. This pneumatic cuts off the exhaustthrough channel 24 leading from the action. I also place within the bedrail space, pneumatic governor devices, and locate them at the righthand end of the key bed as shown in Fig. 3. As such governing devicesform no part of the present invention, I do not describe them herein,but it will be understood that the necessary airchannels connecting theaction and the music sheet operating devices with the feeders andreservoir are also located as far as possible, within the bed railspace.

I claim l. A self playing piano having its exhaust wind producingfeeders and their connecting air channels located within the bed rail ofthe key desk.

2. A self playing piano having its exhaust wind producing feeders andreservoir, and the air passages connecting them with the action, alllocated within the bed rail of the key desk.

3. A self playing piano having its exhaust wind producing feeders andreservoir arranged horizontally, the feeders, reservoir and theconnecting air passages being all located within the bed rail of the keydesk.

4. A self playing piano, having its exhaust producing feeders arrangedhorizontally within the bed rail of the key desk of the piano, and alsohaving pedals for operating said feeders connected to the undersidethereof.

EtIOl-IY C. IIISOOCII.

I'I'vitnesses I-I. M. MUNDAY, FEARL Annsirs.

